08/16/2025
“I came to the United States from Thailand in 1987 and made Alaska my home in 1995 when I was just 15 years old. It was a huge change, going from hot and humid to snow and cold, but it’s been home ever since. I started working at GCI when I was 20, and while I’ve left a few times over the years, I’ve always found my way back. It finally hit me: this is where I belong. I want to retire here. GCI has done so much for me as an employee and as a person, I feel like it’s my turn to give back.
I work at the Dimond Center retail store, right at the front. Customers come in whether they’re having a good day or a really tough one. We’re the first faces they see, and that means something. I help them with everything from billing to troubleshooting to purchases, but it’s more than that. Some days, we’re sales experts. Some days, we’re the person who listens when no one else will. And I do the same for my coworkers — mentoring, guiding and just being there. I really believe in leading by example and I’ve seen it work. So many of our top representatives today started right here, learning from one another and lifting each other up.
One customer experience I’ll never forget is when a customer called our customer support line and was upset. I took the call, listened and stayed calm. A few days later, she called back to apologize. She said she was going through a lot and thanked me for listening. She even saved my name in her phone — not GCI, but my actual name. Years later, she walked into the retail store, saw my name tag, and started crying. I had no idea who she was at first, but when she showed me her phone and told me the story, it reminded me how much it matters to just listen. To show up.
That’s what I love about this job — helping people. Whether it’s a customer or a coworker, I want to be someone they can count on. I’ve grown so much here. I’ve learned how to communicate, how to de-escalate, how to be a mentor. GCI shaped who I am today. And it’s not just about what the company does for us — it’s what we do for each other. From jumping as a team at the Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge to being out in the community volunteering, we’re always giving back. That’s what keeps me here: the people, the support, and the heart behind it all.”
Sithone has been with GCI for over 20 years and work as a Customer Service Specialist at the Dimond Center retail store. She's a top-tier mentor, a natural listener, and a steady source of support for both coworkers and customers alike. In her spare time, you can find her putting together floral arrangements, getting outdoors and what she considers her dearest hobby, spending time with her three children.
